To wonder how many children you’d have, in an ideal world?

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I’ve just had one and I can’t decide whether I’m done, or I want 20! 😁

If you didn’t have to worry about health, money, job, the pesky practicalities... How many children would you have (/had)? Why?

I wanted four and have four. Four can be hard work at times though but I don't regret it.

I am pregnant with DC2 and in an ideal world that’s probably where I’d stick as well. Even with unlimited funds to not worry about childcare, cleaning, holidays and schooling I think one child per parent seems like the best ratio! I also dislike pregnancy and am feeling pretty shit towards DS1 now with my late pregnancy inability to do anything. I think 2 is my limit to also have a bit of a life myself and give them the time they need individually. I was only going to have 1 child so mentally preparing for having 2 has been enough for me! It’ll be two boys but I have no urge to try for a girl.

6 but we don’t have the space of family support

Wow, thanks so much for all the replies, everyone!!! I’m in a different time zone so it’s taken me a while to get back to the thread and read all the responses. 9 pages!

So interesting to read the variety of answers and reasons - there’s hardly any consensus! I’m one of two but with a younger sibling with serious SN, so I’ve grown up almost like an only, in many ways. DH is one of four (3 younger sisters), and his cultural background is very heavily into “big” families. Also I’ve always found pregnancy and birth quite disturbing, and funnily enough those feelings have returned despite having been through it all myself in the last year! But I’m certain I’ll get over that soon enough, like I did last time. Doctor’s orders are 18 months minimum before conceiving again, due to EMCS, so I’ve got plenty of time to daydream and decide what I want. DH wants between 2 and 7 inclusive, apparently, which is fine for him because he’s not the one popping them out...! 😂

Sending flowers to everyone who would like (more) children but it’s not working/ed out. That’s really tough 🙁

We have 3 and it's what we both wanted. It works for us. Many people say one will be left out but we've not found this. Often the kids go off in different combinations eg sometimes the two youngest do something the oldest doesn't care about, sometimes the two oldest want to do something the youngest is too small for. Occasionally oldest and youngest do something but usually the middle one aligns herself to whoever wants to play as she's the most social and the other two are both happy alone. They also all do stuff together.

Personality determines how the numbers work without a doubt. I know many families of 2 kids where the kids fight constantly. Having 3 means they can split up more and if 1 kid wants to be alone there's less chance of the other moaning that they really need them to play etc.

I’d have 20 if I could but I just have one teenager lol

I had always imagined two but we needed ivf and now that we have our DD our world feels pretty ideal and we couldn't possibly need anything else.

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I have 1

5/6, I have three.

I enjoyed having children, but lack of money stopped us having more.